Auckland businessman Gerard Peterson was staggered when he was offered a share in Eskimo Queen after her Queensland Oaks demolition.
Several months on and she is the $7 Caulfield Cup second favourite, giving Peterson a big chance of adding to his stellar list of Australian big race winswhich includes the 2000 Melbourne Cup with Brew.
Peterson has a two-pronged attack on Saturday's feature, with his 2005 Caulfield Cup winner Railings back under the care of Waikato trainer Roger James, albeit with a horror outside barrier.
Peterson and three other clients of transtasman trainer Mike Moroney were offered a half-share in Eskimo Queen. A syndicate of owners sold out after Eskimo Queen clipped heels and dumped rider Greg Childs when favourite for the "She wasn't cheap, having won a group one race," Peterson said. "But I'd seen all her races in New Zealand and I was quite shocked when they said they wanted to sell her."
"She's been working phenomenally well. We're confident if we get a firm track."
